Decathlon Kuikma PPR 100 Pickleball Paddle

Decathlon are doing pickleball a quiet favour in the UK by stocking the PPR 100 at £20-30, because nothing else in the country lets you try the sport for the price of two beers. This is not a paddle you should review on quality terms — it is the paddle equivalent of a sample sachet, and it should be judged accordingly.

The construction is exactly what you expect at this price. The polymer honeycomb core is real polymer rather than the foam fillers in some sub-£20 imports, and the fibreglass face will hit a ball back over the net consistently. The 12mm thickness is thinner than most modern paddles, which means slightly more pop but less control on touch shots — fine when you are still learning to dink anyway.

The 4 inch grip is smaller than the 4 1/4 inch standard on most UK paddles, which suits players with smaller hands or juniors but feels cramped for adult players who already grip with two hands. Spin generation is minimal — the smooth fibreglass surface barely grips the ball, so do not expect to learn topspin third-shots with this paddle.

Ideal owner is the curious newcomer who has played pickleball at a friend's club twice and wants their own paddle for £25 before deciding whether to commit. Wrong owner is anyone who already plays once a fortnight — you will hit the paddle's ceiling within weeks.

In-store and online at Decathlon UK at £20-30, often the only place in the country selling pickleball paddles below £40.